Believe it or not, half the world’s population has H. pylori. If you're one of them, you'll likely want to eliminate it, as it poses significant health risks. A new, large-scale study suggests that certain vitamins might help in this effort.
H. pylori is a major risk factor for ulcers, gastritis, gastric cancer, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Additionally, it can damage the stomach's protective barrier, impair nutrient absorption, and lead to vitamin deficiencies.
This extensive meta-analysis, which reviewed 48 high-quality studies, uncovered three critical findings:
- Due to the malabsorption caused by H. pylori, infected individuals often have lower levels of vitamins B12, folic acid, C, and D.
- People who successfully eradicate H. pylori tend to have higher levels of vitamin D compared to those with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
- Adding antioxidants, specifically vitamins C and E, to standard treatment increases the likelihood of eliminating H. pylori.
These findings suggest that individuals infected with H. pylori may benefit from supplementing with vitamins B12, folic acid, C, and D to address deficiencies. Additionally, vitamins C and D could play a role in helping eradicate the infection.
Source: Front Nutr. 2021; 8: 781333.